St Vincent de Paul President says first reports of children sleeping in Garda Stations over 12 months ago spurring calls for action to end the 'unprecedented number'of families in need of emergency accommodation

13:17 Friday 10th of August 2018

An 'unprecedented number' of young families across the country need emergency accommodation, according to The Society of St Vincent de Paul.

Kieran Stafford, SVP National President, said :“It is utterly unacceptable that any child should have to spend a night sleeping in a car or a Garda Station.

Childhood is short, and at this time of year, children should be enjoying their summer holidays with friends and family. No child should have to worry about where they are going to sleep at night."

He said:“We first heard reports of children sleeping in Garda Stations in May 2017 and nothing has changed 14 months later. It is clear that the current policy has failed.

The Government must ramp up the delivery of social housing, and end the long-term use of emergency accommodation for children and families."

In SVP’s Pre-Budget Submission, the Society also called on Government to increase the vacant site and vacant property levies to address issues of speculation and hoarding.

He said:“We need a compassionate and empathetic response to the crisis. Unhelpful narratives that seek to blame people for their circumstances can’t be used to distract from the root cause of the crisis – an overreliance on the private sector to meet housing need. Children’s well-being can no longer be collateral damage to a dysfunctional housing system."

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